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NATO May Maintain Libya No-Fly Zone After War Ends

Benghazi-based Libyan rebel soldiers celebrate their arrival in Tripoli on Tuesday. NATO is exploring options for a role after the Libyan war ends, including continuing to patrol the country’s skies and enforce an arms embargo. (Daniel Berehulak / Getty Images)

NATO explored options on Aug. 31 for a role after the war in Libya ends, including the possibility of continuing to patrol the country’s skies and enforce an arms embargo.

Although NATO warplanes are maintaining pressure on diehard remnants of Moammar Gadhafi’s regime, alliance ambassadors reviewed in Brussels a set of post-war scenarios presented by military staff, officials said.

Any role for NATO in Libya after hostilities there end would depend on requests from the United Nations, the officials stressed, noting that the alliance wants the UN to take the lead in post-conflict management.

NATO insists that it will not send any ground troops to keep the peace in Libya whenever the war ends. This appears to be a « firm view » maintained by alliance members, a NATO official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

« I see the primary area of interest as some form of logistical support » to a UN mission, the official said, adding that this could include a sealift and an airlift.

The military alliance could also maintain its no-fly zone and a maritime arms embargo if the UN requests it, the official said.

NATO has conducted air strikes against Gadhafi forces while warplanes and ships patrolled Libyan skies and waters since March, under a UN Security Council mandate to protect civilians from attacks.

With some regime holdovers still refusing to lay down their arms after rebels took control of Tripoli last week, NATO members agreed that the bombing campaign must continue until Gadhafi’s troops stop attacking Libyans, the official said.

The NATO mission is operating under a second 90-day mandate that expires on Sept. 27.

Alliance ambassadors put off a decision on whether to extend the operation for another 90 days because « we have the time » to decide while the next steps are explored, the official said.